Gal Gadot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gal Gadot
גל גדות
Gadot in 2017
Born	(1985-04-30) 30 April 1985 (age 40) Petah Tikva, Israel
Occupation	Actress model
Years active	2004–present
Title	Miss Israel 2004 (Winner) Miss Universe 2004 (Unplaced)
Spouse(s)	Jaron Varsano ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	4
Signature

Gal Gadot (born April 30, 1985) is an Israeli actress and model. She is best known for playing Wonder Woman in the DC Extended Universe movies. Her powerful performance made her a worldwide star. In 2018, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. In 2025, she became the first Israeli actor to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Before becoming a famous actress, Gadot won the Miss Israel beauty pageant in 2004. She then served for two years in the Israel Defense Forces as a fitness instructor. Her acting career began with a role as Gisele Yashar in the movie Fast & Furious (2009).

Gadot's big break came when she was cast as Wonder Woman. She first appeared as the superhero in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). She then starred in the hit solo movie Wonder Woman (2017) and its sequel Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). She has also starred in other major films like Red Notice (2021) and Death on the Nile (2022).

Besides acting, Gadot is a businesswoman. She started a film production company with her husband and has invested in several companies. She is seen as a national icon in her home country of Israel.

Early Life and Family

Gal Gadot was born on April 30, 1985, in Petah Tikva, Israel. She grew up in the nearby city of Rosh HaAyin in what she described as a "very Jewish, Israeli family environment." Her mother was a physical education teacher and her father was an engineer. She has one younger sister named Dana.

Her family has roots in different parts of Europe, including Poland, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Her maternal grandfather was a survivor of the Holocaust, a terrible period in history during World War II.

As a child, Gadot was very active. She was encouraged by her mother to play sports and took up swimming, tennis, volleyball, and basketball. For 12 years, she also trained in different styles of dance, including ballet, hip-hop, and jazz. She even considered becoming a choreographer. In high school, she majored in biology.

Career Path

From Miss Israel to Hollywood

At age 18, Gadot's mother and a friend entered her into the Miss Israel beauty pageant. To her surprise, she won the title in 2004. After her win, she represented Israel in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant.

At age 20, Gadot began her mandatory two-year military service in the Israel Defense Forces. Because of her background in sports and dance, she served as a combat fitness instructor. She taught soldiers gymnastics and exercises to keep them in shape. She has said that this experience taught her discipline and respect.

After her service, Gadot began studying law and international studies at a university. However, her life changed when a casting director saw her modeling card and invited her to audition for the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. She did not get the part, but the experience made her interested in acting.

A few months later, the same casting director recommended her for a role in Fast & Furious. This time, she got the part, playing the character Gisele Yashar. This was her first major role in a Hollywood film and her big break. She appeared as Gisele in several more Fast & Furious movies, performing many of her own stunts.

Becoming Wonder Woman

Gadot, speaking at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2014 for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice at the San Diego Convention Center.

In 2013, Gadot was cast in the role that would make her famous around the world: Wonder Woman. She first played the superhero in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).

To prepare for the role, Gadot trained for six months. She learned swordsmanship, Kung Fu, kickboxing, capoeira, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She said the training was much more intense than her time in the army. Her hard work paid off, and her performance was praised as one of the best parts of the film.

In 2017, she starred in her own solo movie, Wonder Woman. The film was a huge success with both critics and audiences. It became one of the highest-grossing films of the year and cemented Gadot's status as a major star. She played the character again in Justice League (2017) and the sequel Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).

Cast of Wonder Woman at the Los Angeles premiere, from left to right: Danny Huston, Chris Pine, Gadot, director Patty Jenkins, Elena Anaya, and Robin Wright.

Recent Movie Roles

Gadot has continued to star in major films. In 2021, she starred with Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the Netflix action-comedy Red Notice. The movie quickly became one of the most-watched films on the platform.

In 2022, she appeared in the mystery film Death on the Nile. The following year, she starred in and produced the spy thriller Heart of Stone.

In 2025, Gadot took on a different kind of role, playing the Evil Queen in Disney's live-action version of Snow White. To get the part, she had to show that she could sing and spent a month preparing for her audition.

Other Work and Projects

Modeling and Business

Gadot behind the scenes of Revlon's "Live Boldly" campaign

Alongside her acting career, Gadot has had a successful modeling career. She has been the face of many famous brands, including Gucci perfumes, Reebok, and Revlon. She has also been a brand ambassador for companies like Huawei and Tiffany & Co.

Gadot is also a producer and entrepreneur. In 2019, she and her husband, Jaron Varsano, started their own film and television production company called Pilot Wave. She has said she wanted to be in control of her own career and tell stories that are important to her. In 2021, they also launched a brand of healthy macaroni and cheese called Goodles.

Supporting Good Causes

Left to right: Patty Jenkins, Gadot, and Lynda Carter in 2017.

Gadot uses her fame to support causes she believes in. She considers herself a feminist and often speaks about the importance of empowering women and girls. In 2016, the United Nations named Wonder Woman an "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls" to help promote gender equality. Gadot appeared at the UN to celebrate the honor.

She has also worked to raise awareness about the Holocaust and has supported charities that help sick children. Gadot is very proud of her home country, Israel, and often shows her support. Because of the long and complicated conflict in the region, her views have sometimes led to public discussion.

Personal Life

Gadot met her husband, Jaron Varsano, a real estate developer, in 2006 at a party in the Israeli desert. They were married in 2008. The couple has four daughters: Alma, Maya, Daniella, and Ori. The family lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

In 2024, Gadot had a serious health issue but made a full recovery. She later shared her story to help raise awareness and encourage others to take care of their health.

Filmography

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2009	Fast & Furious	Gisele Yashar
2010	Date Night	Natanya
	Knight and Day	Naomi
2011	Fast Five	Gisele Yashar
2013	Fast & Furious 6
2014	Kicking Out Shoshana	Mirit Ben Hatush
2015	Furious 7	Gisele Yashar	Credited and appears in a deleted scene
2016	Triple 9	Elena Vlaslov
	Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Criminal	Jill Pope
	Keeping Up with the Joneses	Natalie Jones
2017	Wonder Woman	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman
	Justice League
2018	Ralph Breaks the Internet	Shank	Voice role
2019	Between Two Ferns: The Movie	Herself	Cameo
2020	Wonder Woman 1984	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman	Also producer
2021	Zack Snyder's Justice League		Director's cut
	Red Notice	Sarah Black/ The Bishop
2022	Death on the Nile	Linnet Ridgeway
2023	Fast X	Gisele Yashar	Uncredited appearance in a post-credits scene
	Shazam! Fury of the Gods	Diana Prince / Wonder Woman	Uncredited appearance
	The Flash
	Heart of Stone	Rachel Stone	Also producer
2025	Snow White	Evil Queen
	In the Hand of Dante	Giulietta Tosches/ Gemma Donati	Post-production
TBA	The Runner	TBA	Post-production
	Ruin		Post-production

Television

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Gal Gadot para niños

• Israeli fashion
• Women in Israel
• Women in the Israel Defense Forces
• List of Israelis